Donate money, school supplies for needy children in area

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is beginning signups for its annual School Supply Program for kindergarten through 12th grade students who live anywhere in Anderson County.

Staff reports

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is beginning signups for its annual School Supply Program for kindergarten through 12th grade students who live anywhere in Anderson County.

The goal of this program is to provide eligible families with adequate supplies to help them get a great start in school, according to an ADFAC news release. In 2011, almost 1,500 children were given necessary school supplies such as backpacks, crayons, pencils, paper, scissors, notebooks and basic calculators.

To apply for fall school supplies, call ADFAC now at (865) 483-6028. If you get an answering machine message, leave a message that you are calling about school supplies and leave your name, Social Security number, a valid phone number where you can be reached, along with each school-age child's name, and the school and grade he/she will be in this fall.

If you call early enough in June, you may be able to make an appointment and be pre-approved for the program. Otherwise, an ADFAC staff member will call you back between mid-July and early August with an appointment time to determine eligibility and take your children through the distribution room. Willow Brook Elementary School families will be called between July 2 and July 9. Be gathering proof of all income in the home, particularly any food stamp, Social Security or verification letters, pay stubs, and/or child support in the meantime. All families will be considered for eligibility and accepted on a first come, first served basis. School supply distribution begins on July 10 and runs through Aug. 9.

ADFAC is able to provide for part of this program through the support of grants from Variety of Eastern Tennessee, Altrusa/Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary, the Aslan Foundation, and Safeco Insurance. Also, many local businesses, organizations, churches and individuals have donated money or school supplies. Anyone interested in donating can contact Doris Doherty at 483-6028, ext. 106, for more information. School supplies will be accepted through Aug. 9. Monetary donations can be mailed to: ADFAC School Supplies, P.O. Box 5953, Oak Ridge, TN 37831. Even $5 or $10 can make a difference.

For more information about ADFAC, visit the website, www.adfac.org.

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